Door-operating apparatus



y 23, 1939- H. R. FYKE DOOR-OPERATING APPARATUS Filed July 30, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. g 16 027610? fTy/(e BY min ATTORNEY May 23, 1939. FYKE V 2,159,522

DOOR-OPERATING APPARATUS Filed July 30, 1956 s SheetS-Sheet 2 22 INVENTOR.

Homer R F y/re ATTORNEY.

ay 1939- H. R. FYKE DOOR-OPERATING APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed July 50, 1936 INVENTOR. Ham er R @Ke BY 4min ATTORNEY.

Patented May 23, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,159,522 DOOR-OPERATING APPARATUS Application July 30,

7 Claims.

My invention relates to a door operating apparatus, and more particularly to hydraulic means for opening and closing doors. This apparatus may be operated conjunctively with the system shown and described in my co-pending application, Serial No. 93,380 filed contemporaneously herewith, and issued as Patent No. 2,096,034 on October 19, 1937.

An object of my invention is to provide means for automatically opening and closing doors by a single operation, after the mechanism has been actuated.

Another object is to provide means for quickly opening doors and means adapted to dampen closing movements of the doors.

Still another object is to provide safety means on such a device that will break the operating connection if for any reason an obstruction is in the way of the doors opening or closing.

A further object is to provide means in a valvecontrolled mechanism of the character mentioned that will automatically take care of leaky valves, without operating the mechanism, but will permit the mechanism to operate normally when the valves are intentionally operated.

The invention also comprises novel details of construction and novel combinations and arrangements of parts, which will more fully appear in the course of the following description.

In the drawings, like reference characters designate similar parts in the several views.

Figure 1 is a plan view of an embodiment of my invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged, broken plan of a detail comprised in the invention.

Figure 3 is a section taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is an enlarged section taken on the line 4-4 ofFigure 1.

Figure 5 is an enlarged section taken on the line 55'of Figure 1.

Figure 6 is an enlarged, broken plan of another detail comprised in the invention.

Figure? is a section taken on the line 1-! of Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a section taken on the line indicated by the arrow 8 of Figure 1.

Figure 9 is a broken plan view of a modification.

Figure 10 is a section taken along the line l0.l0 of Figure 9.

Figure 11 is a section taken along the line HIl of Figure 9.

Referring more in detail to the drawings, the reference numbers 8 and 9 designate hinged doors, such as garage doors, to which my in- 1936, Serial No. 93,379

vention has been applied. Links I 0 and 12 are pivoted respectively to the doors 8 and 9, for opening and closing same. In order to utilize a relatively small amount of movement in the apparatus hereinafter to be described, for the purpose of opening and closing the doors, I prefer to employ lazy-tongs I 3. An end lever l4 of the lazy-tongs connects at one end to a spindle I5. In ordinary operation, the spindle I5 is relatively fixed, but it has a safety release which will be more fully described hereinafter.

The other end-lever l6 of the lazy-tongs is pivoted to a finger I! on a sliding block I8. The block slides in a channel between track members IS. The block l8 has fingers I1 and 20 that project through slots 2| in the track members. An arm 22 on a piston rod 23 is pivoted on the finger 20.

A piston 24 on the piston rod is disposed to reciprocate in a cylinder 25. Pipes 26 and 2'! connect with the cylinder at opposite ends of same and therefore at opposite sides of the piston. A four-way Valve 28 controls the flow of liquid through said pipes. A pipe 29 supplies liquid to the apparatus through the valve 28.

A pipe 30 discharges liquid from the apparatus. The pipe 30 has branches 3| and 32. A valve 33 in the line 3i is manually actuated by a key 34. The key control prevents unauthorized access. In practice, the apparatus is disposed overhead within a building, such as a garage, and the key controlled valve 33 is arranged outside of the building, in order that the doors may be opened by operation of the key 34.

The other branch discharge pipe 32 is controlled by a valve 35. A lever 36 is connected with the valve to operate same. The lever 36 is operated by either of two means, to wit, manual means and automatic means. The manual means consists of a cord 31 attached to one end of the lever 36 and passed over a sheave 38. A ring 39 at the end of the pull cord 31 provides a finger loop for manipulation of the valve .35. In practice, the said manual means is disposed inside the garage or other building, whereby the doors may be opened from within. g

The automatic means for operating the valve comprises the following: a latch 40 for engaging with opposite end 4| of the lever 36. The latch is pivoted on a bar 42 which is substantially parallel with the piston rod 23 and is a return on the arm 22. A spring 43 urges the latch in an engaging position with the lever arm 4|.

One end of a cord 44 is fastened on the latch 46. The cord is passed around a pulley 45 on. the track members I9, and the opposite end is looped about the spindle I5 to anchor the cord end in place. Another cord 46 is also anchored to the spindle I5 and is fastened to the end of lever 36, to pull the lever in a direction opposite to that in which it is pulled by the cord 31. Coiled springs 41 may be disposed in the cords 44 and 46 to take up slack in same.

Operating means for the four-way valve 28 comprises: a lever 48 having ends 49 and 56 A block 5I is also slidable between the track members IS. The block 5I has fingers 52 and 53 that likewise project through the slots 2 I. The finger 52 is connected with the end 56 of the lever 48 by means of a helical spring 54. The end 419 of the last-mentioned lever is connected with the plunger of a dash-pot 56, through the intermediary of a rod 51. A by-pass 58 carrying an adjusting valve 59 provide the control mechanism of the dash-pot.

The safety device for the ordinarily fixed spindle I5 of the lazy-tongs includes another block 66 between the track members I9. Tending to maintain the block in the position shown in Figures 2 and 3, is a spring urged ball 6I which normally seats in a groove 62. If during either the opening or the closing movements of the doors, an obstruction is struck, the apparatus may still complete the cycle of operation, but the doors will stop their motion because the ball 6I will spring out of the groove 62, which will allow the block 66 to slide along the track members I9 without tending to move the doors further. To restore the normal condition of the apparatus, after the obstruction has been removed, the block 60 must be returned until its ball 6| again seats in the groove 62.

The return bar 42 has two hook members: 64 and 65, which are disposed on opposite sides of the finger 53 on block 5|, whereby one hook or the other engages the finger 53, depending upon the direction in which the bar 45 is moving- In the modification shown in Figures 9 to 11, the direction of flow is substantially reversed from that shown in Figure 1. In Figure 1, the system is filled with pressure fluid, when the apparatus is idle. In Figure 9, fluid in the system is not under pressure when the apparatus is iclle.

As in Figure 1, the modified construction of Figure 9 has a piston cylinder I25, a piston rod I23 operated by a piston in the cylinder, a fourway valve I28 connected, respectively with the ends of the cylinder I25 (at opposite sides of the piston therein) by means of conduits I26 and! I21.

A discharge pipe I 30 from the four-way valve I 28 to the system. A series of valves I33, I34, I35 and I45 are connected in parallel between the pipe I29 and a counter pipe I31, whereby any one of said valves may actuate the mechanism. It is to be understood without further illustration that valves I33 to I35 may be placed at desired positions inside the garage or other building, outside at the entrance to same, inside the homehaving the garage,'and/or any other desired place. The valves 33, I33, I34 and I35 are preferably of the type of conventional valve that is opened manually but closes by spring action. It is thought this wellknown constructionis clear without detailed illustration. These valves, however, may be opened and closed manually, if desired.

-Thevalve I45 is an automatic valve. A lever I46 operates the latter valve. A bar I41 connected with the piston rod I23, in the manner of the bar 22, carries a pivoted latch I48. A spring I49 urges the latch toward the bar I41. The latch carries a hook I56 for engagement with the end of the lever I 46. When the hook I58 is moving the lever I 46 in one direction, the nose of the hook pushes the lever, as shown in Figure 11. When the hook I50 is moving the lever I46 in the opposite direction, the hook engages the end of the lever I46, in the manner, shown by the hook 66 in Figure 5. Stops I66 and I6I limit movements of the lever I46 in opposite directions, while stops I62 and I63 limit movements of the lever 4| in opposite directions. The hooked ends I59 and 66 ride over the ends of the levers I46 and 4| respec tively when the hooks I48 and 46 have moved the levers against the stops respectively.

A discharge conduit I38 from the valve I45 connects with an automatic relief valve I39. A bypass I32 from the valve I39 empties into the discharge pipe I 3!. The relief valve I39 comprises spaced seats I46 and I4I for a ball check I42. The normal upright position of the valve is shown in Figure 10. It will be noted that the ball check I42 rests on the seat I46 (the full line position) when allowed to settle by gravity, but assumes the closed, broken line position against the seat I4I, when a rush of water enters the pipe I38. The line I38 is connected with the four-way valve by a connection I5I.

It is believed clear without further illustration that the valve 33 and the valve I33 may be operated by a platform, and that the valve I33 may be key controlled, such as shown at 34. In the hereunto appended claims, it is to be understood t at by the term manual valve is not only meant to include a valve operated by hand, but also a valve operated by a platform.

The operation of the apparatus will be described in connection with garage doors. As the driver directs his car up the driveway to the garage, the valve 33 or valve I33 is opened either by the car passing over a platform or by the driver manually opening the valve 33 or I33 by means of his key 34 or I34. The valves 33 and I33 are spring returned, one-way valves.

Opening the valve 33 causes liquid in the system to discharge by means of the outlet pipe 3I. Figure 1 illustrates the system when the doors are closed. As soon as the valve 33 is opened, thev liquid in the cylinder 25, to the left of the piston 24, as shown in Figure 1, passes into the conduit 21, through the valve 28, through the conduit 36 and then from the branch conduit 3I, past the valve 33 to the discharge.

At the same time, the inlet conduit 29 is supplying liquid through the valve 28, and through the conduit 26. to the cylinder 25 at the opposite side of the piston 24. By this means the pressure to the right of the piston 24 is maintained while the pressure to the left of the piston 24, all as shown in Figure 1, is being progressively reduced, whereby the piston 24 and the piston rod 23 are actuated.

Movement of the piston rod 23 and the arm 22 moves together the end levers I4 and I6 of the lazy-tongs, By this means a comparatively small amount of movement of the piston rod is converted into a comparatively large amount of movement in the links I6 and I2, for the purpose of opening the doors 8 and 9.

Movement of the member 22 effects the movement of the therewith integral bar 42. Hook member 65 on said bar engages the finger 53 near the end of the piston stroke and pushes the block alongthe track I9. When the tension in the spring 54 becomes sufliciently great, it will cause the lever 48 to yielding move over to a position at right angles to that shown in Figures 1 and 6. This shifting movement is dampened by the dashpot 56, which of course may be adjusted by the valve 59. The dash-pot thereby 'dampens movement of the valve 28, so there will be ample time fora driver to pass through the doorway.

As liquid is draining past the valve 33 from the left end of the cylinder 25 in Figure 1, liquid is being supplied .to the opposite end of the cylinder, which eifects movement of the piston 24 toward the left, The bar 42 is thereby moved in the same direction, carrying with it the hook 4Il--66. Since the hooked end 66 is caught around the end 4| of the lever, movement of the bar 42 to the left in Figure 5 causes counter-clockwise movement of the lever 4|, thus opening the valve 35. Upon opening of the latter valve, the cycle of operation of the system will be effected before stopping, even though the valve 33 is closed upon opening of the valve 35.

#When the lever 48 has been shifted to a position at right angles to that shown in Figures 1 and 6, the four-way valve 28 is operated to connect inlet 29 with conduit 21 and conduit 26 with discharge conduit 30. In this latter position of the valve '28, liquid is being fed into the cylinder 25 to the left of the piston 24 and is being discharged from the cylinder 25 at the right of the piston 24. This reverse operation closes the doors, by causing a retracting movement of the lazy-tongs.

In this return movement, the hook 64 engages the finger 53 and moves the block 5| back to its original position. The spring 54 causes the return of the lever 48 to its original position, as shown in Figures 1 and 6. By the end of said movement, the doors have been closed. The dash-pot also dampens the closing movement of the doors.

The operation just described is usually followed when an automobile is approaching a garage and is driven into the garage while the doors are open. If, however, theoperator is in the garage and wishes to open the doors 8 and 9, he pulls the cord 31, which opens the discharge valve in the discharge branch conduit 32. The opening of the discharge. valve 35 effects the same operation as opening the discharge valve 33, described above.

The latch also functions to open the valve 35. By reason of having the valve 35 in addition to the valve 33, each in a branch discharge pipe, opening the valve 33 a relatively small amount will start the operation of the system. Then by means of the latch 40 the valve 35'is fully opened, which hastens the opening of the garage doors.

During the closing movement of the doors, a'

nose 66 on the latch 4|] engages and pushes the end 4| of the lever 36, thus closing the valve 35, to hold the doors closed. At the end of the pushing movement, the nose 66 rides over the incline provided by the lever end 4|, and by reason of the spring 43 assumes the position shown in Figure 5.

By means of the safety feature shown in Fig- I spindle l5 relatively stationary. But when an obstruction is struck, as stated, the spring-urged ball 6| is allowed to slip from its groove. The lazy-tongs are thereby rendered ineffectual for moving the doors because of the lack of a relatively stationary point.

The ball slipping from its position, as explained, will cause the block 60 to slide along the track I9,.to the left as shown in Figure 1. Since the block 60 carries the spindle I5, the latter will draw the cord 46, during said slipping movement, thus closing the valve 35, through the intermediary of the lever 36. Slipping of the block 6|] to the right, as shown in Figure 2, will cause the cord 44 to lift the latch 40. This action of the cord 44 will withdraw the latch 40 and thus prevent it from opening the valve 35.

In the operation of the system shown in Figure 9, when one of the valves I33 to I35 is opened, fluid under pressure is admitted to the system. These valves in their preferred form close automatically when released, so one of them must be held open until the mechanism has started.

When the system is at rest, the valve I is closed (Figure 11 shows the closed position). The four-way valve I28 permits the flow of liquid through the conduits I5I and I21, into the cylinder I 25, whereby the piston is moved to the right in Figure 9. Liquid at the other side of the piston is discharging a corresponding amount through conduit I26, through the four-way valve I28, and through the discharge conduits I30 and I3I.

The piston rod I23 and thereby the bar I41 integral therewith are also moved to the right, thus opening the valve I45 automatically. The manually opened valve may then be closed or allowed to close and the operation will continue and the doors opened and closed, in the manner explained in connection with the previous form herein.

The relief valve I42 permits the leakage of a relatively small quantity of liquid through the valves without operating the mechanism, but when a larger quantity of liquid passes through the conduits I38, I5I, the ball check I42 moves to its upper, closed position, thus preventing the escape of liquid into the pipe I32. The chief function of the ball check valve I42 is to permit the escape of liquid caused by leaks in valves I33, I34, I35 and I45, without operating the door opening apparatus.

As soon as the bar I41 has reached the limit of its stroke to the right, the four-way valve I28 is thrown to its opposite position as explained in connection with the valve 28 (it being understood that the mechanism shown in Figures 1 to 8, inclusive, are likewise provided for in the mechanism shown in Figures 9 to 11, except as specifically shown or described to be otherwise).

Revers ng the four-way valve I28 causes the supply conduit I5I to be connected with conduit I25, and the discharge conduit I30 to be connected with the conduit I21, thus moving the piston in the cylinder I25 in the opposite direction, to wit, to the left as shown in Figure 9.

In the movement of the bar I41 to the right, the nose of the latch 148 opens the valve I45 by pushing the lever I46 in the manner shown in Figure 11, and movement of the bar I41 to the left causes the hook I50 to return the lever I46 to its original position, in the manner suggested by the hook 66 in Figure 5.

While I have illustrated and described what I now regard as the preferred embodiment of my invention, the construction is, of course, subject to modifications without departing from the spirit of my invention. I, therefore, do not wish to restrict myself to the particular form of construction illustrated and described, but desire to avail myself of all modifications which may fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a door operating apparatus, a cylinder, a piston in the cylinder, means operatively connected with the piston for opening and closing a door, a fluid supply conduit having two branches, a valve in each branch conduit, one of said valves being capable of being opened manually, a fluid discharge conduit, valve means for selectively connecting the fluid supply conduit with the cylinder at either side of the piston, said valve means at the same time automatically connecting the discharge conduit with the cylinder at the opposite side of the piston, mechanism including said piston actuated by the opening oi said manual valve to initiate opening movement of the door and to initiate movement of the pis-- ton, means actuated by said initial movements for automatically opening the other branch-com duit valve, the latter valve being connected to continue the opening of the door automatically, said elements closing the door and automatically closing the latter valve, at predetermined points in the operation of the apparatus.

2. In a door operating apparatus, a cylinder, a piston in the cylinder, means operatively connected with the piston for opening and closing a door, a fluid supply conduit having two branches, a valve in each branch, one of said valves being capable of being opened manually, a fluid discharge conduit, valve means for selectively connecting the fluid supply conduit with the cylinder at either side of the piston, said valve means at the same time automatically connecting the discharge conduit with the cylinder at the op-' posite side of the piston, mechanism actuated by the opening of said manual valve to initiate operation of the other branch-conduit valve, said elements thereafter automatically closing the manual valve at least by the time the cycle of operation is completed, and mechanism operating the said selecting valvemeans.

3. In a door operating apparatus, a cylinder, a piston in the cylinder, a rod on the piston, a latch and spaced hooks on the rod, means connected with the piston rod for operating a door, fluid supply means, fluid discharge means, a four-Way valve connected respectively with the fluid supply means and with the fluid discharge means, conduits connecting said valve with the cylinder at opposite sides of the piston, whereby the fluid supply means may be connected with either conduit and the fluid discharge means at the same time connected with the other conduit, the fluid supply means having two branches, a valve in each branch, one of said valves being capable of being operated manually whereby to initiate movement of the piston, levers actuating the four-way valve and the valve in the other branch conduit, the lever of the valve in the second branch conduit being operated by said latch during said initial movement of the piston, and a mechanism connected to operate the four-Way valve, including an element disposed between and in the paths of said hooks.

4. In a door operating apparatus, a cylinder, a piston in the cylinder, means connected with the piston for operating a door, fluid supply means, fluid discharge means, a four-way valve connected separately with the supply means. and with the discharge means,'conduits connecting said valve with the cylinder at opposite sides of the piston, whereby the fluid supply means may be selectively connected with either conduit and the fluid discharge means connected with the conduit connecting with the cylinder at the opposite side of the piston, a track, a movable block on the track, a rod operatively connected with the piston, the rod being adapted to reciprocate the block on the track, a lever for the-four-way valve, and spring means resiliently connecting the block With the lever.

5. In a door operating apparatus, a cylinder, a piston in. the cylinder, means connected with the piston for operating a door, fluid supply means,

fluid discharge means, a four-way valve for connecting the fluid supply means with the cylinder successively at each side of the'piston and. for simultaneously connecting the fluid discharge means with the cylinder at the opposite sides of the piston respectively, the fluid supply means comprising two branch pipes, valves controlling the. branch pipes, one of the valves being manually operable to supply a limited amount of fluid to the cylinder at a side of the piston, to initiate operation, and means actuated by said initial operation to successively open and close the other branch-conduit valve.

6. In a door operating apparatus, a cylinder, a piston in the cylinder, means connected with the piston for operating a door, fluid supply means, fluid discharge means, mechanism for connecting the fluid supply means with the cylinder successively at each side of the piston and for simultaneously connecting the fluid discharge means with the cylinder at the opposite sides of the piston respectively, the fluid supply means comprising two branch pipes, valves controlling the branch pipes, one of the valves being manually operable, to supply a limited amount of fluid to the cylinder at a side of the piston, to initiate operation, means actuated by said initial operation to successively open and close the other valve, and an automatic relief valve between said valves and the cylinder, to permit the escape of a relatively small amount of fluid, but connected to close when the pressure in the line increases.

'7. In a door operating apparatus, a cylinder, a piston in the cylinder, means operatively connected with the piston for operating a door, a fluid supply conduit having two branches, a valve in each branch conduit, one of said valves being capable of being opened manually, a fluid discharge conduit, valve means for selectively connecting both branches of the fluid supply conduit with the cylinder at either side of the piston, said valve means at the same time automatically connecting the discharge conduit with the cylinder at the opposite side of the piston, mechanism actuated by the opening of the manual valve to initiate operation of the door and to initiate movement of the piston, and means actuated by said initial movements for automatically opening the other branch-conduit valve, the latter valve being connected to continue the operation of the door automatically.

HOMER R. FYKE. 

